Ten

Ludwig has been running pretty well lately KNOCK ON WOOD so for Colin's stop this year we decided to tackle long-lingering body integrity issues.

We disassembled the guts of the doors.

Then installed all new rubber--scrapers, felts, seals. All new. Colin worked on the driver's side while I mimicked his work on the passenger side. Not shown: kicking out the sliding door and tightening its works so it opens and closes more easily.


Doors finished, we had a choice. Replace the ball joint seals or tackle the windshield lip's rust. We went for the windshield, and good thing we did. Above, we cleaned the lip with POR-15 and applied some bondo.

Then we sanded, more bondo, primered, more bondo, sanded, primered, sanded, painted, and...

...slapped the windshield back in, with a new seal. Melissa and I worked the outside, Colin and Esmé worked the inside. I have to say, Esmé was a big help and I don't mean that in the oh-aren't-you-a-big-widdle-helper way. I mean, she was in the thick of it, and even gave the cord the final tug to fully seat the windshield and seal. 

Thank you Colin. And thank you to Melissa who, on top of being a full-time mom, taught many, many knitting classes so we could set aside enough money for a two-day appointment. I'm glad we were able to use the money she earned on some fixes that affect so directly her ability to use Ludwig.

Drive-by Shooting

Drive-by Shooting

Coloradan 1973 Westy seen in Livingston. That's the incorrect front emblem, if you care.

Bighorn Canyon Nat'l Rec Area (South Side)

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area spans 70 or so miles of the Bighorn River in Montana and Wyoming. We visited to the South end, entering through Lovell Wyoming, though most of what we did in the park except the actual camping was in Montana. Is that confusing? Here's a map.

Devil Canyon overlook.

Driving from Ewing-Snell Ranch to the Upper Layout Creek trailhead.

We made it to the falls. The hike was rated 'Hard', since it was all up. The girls did GREAT. We were both astounded and encouraged. Also, we saw a scorpion. Did you know there are scorpions in Montana? There are scorpions in Montana.

Entering Horseshoe Bend Campground.

Sullivan's Knob overlook.

miles 36,488.1 to 37,015.5

...and within the park

Canyon Campground with Stinkerton

Stinkerton and I were gonna stay in Yellowstone at Mammoth last Friday, but it was full. The next campground in the Park with spots was Fishing Bridge, two hours away and $47 a night. Stinkerton said it was okay to backtrack to Canyon Campground, in Gallatin National Forest, instead.

It was only $7 a night.

We snuggled our chairs under this rock as some light rain rolled through.

Another shot of our alcove.

We warmed up our wraps over the fire. She rode her balance bike. She told me when she was ready for bed (about 9:00), we read some stories, and she slept like a log until past 9:00 am. It's confirmed that she's inherited her mother's bed-hogging tendencies. We had peanut butter sandwiches for breakfast. She did great.

miles 36380.4-36488.1